Safety device for presses



Mar. '13, 1923. 1,448,209

F J. GIBBONS SAFETY DEVICE FOR PRESSES Filed. July 10, 1922 mzz7f JGEM-072's ay am fi s Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

FRANK J. GIBBONS, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR Application filed July 10,

To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, FRANK J. Ginnons, a citizen of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented, a new and useful. Safety DeviceforPresses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for-preventing the descent of theplunger of a hand fed press from catching and injuring the hand of theoperator.

The principal object of. the invention is to provide a positive actingmeans which can absolutely be depended upon to act every time theplunger descends, even if that descent is irregular or accidental, topositively withdraw thehand of the operator from a position under theplunger which it normally assumes when feeding blanks to the press. Theinvention also involves the provision of. means to be worn on the wristof the operator to co-operate with the other mechanism to positivelyinsure the above mentioned action and the provision of this mechanism ina simple and inexpensive form suitable for attachment to any ordinarytype of press.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter;

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa side view of a press of.- well known type with a preferred embodimentof this invention applied thereto, and shown in position for feeding theblanks to the press when the plunger is raised; p

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the. parts in the position assumedwhen the plunger is depressed;

Fig. 3 is a side view of certain parts of the device on an enlargedscale;

Fig. 4 is a plan of the attachment worn by the operator with the strapbroken away, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same with the strap and bar whichoperates the device in section.

The invention is shown as applied to a well known type of reciprocatingpress to which the operator feeds blanks by hand. This press has theusual table 10 and lunger 11. The rest of the press need not e describedas the invention is independent of it. On the plunger is mounted a stud12 shown in this instance as perforated but preferably having means forthe free pas- 1922. Serial No. 573,915.

sage of a flexible non-stretchable connection: 2

13 which operates thesafety device from the plunger. This stud 12 ismounted on the plunger itself and of, course it moves up and down withitpositively. l

The flexible connection 13, which, may bev in the formof a belt or chainor cable, passes from the stud 12 in opposite direction upwardly and.each strand extendsiover-a pulley 14. These pulleys are mounted toswing,

on links '15 which support; them from above.

These links are connected at any desired point along a pair of brackets16 mounted on the frame of. the. machine above the plunger. The bracketsare perforatedgto receive the links at; different distances fromtheframe of the machine to accommodate different types of presses and work.Each end of the flexible connection 13, passes down from thepulley 14and is connected with a metal link 17 which is pivoted. through one. ofa seriesof perforations in anarm18 fixed This shaft is r to a transverseshaft 19. mounted in hearings on a; pair of brackets 2Qfixed on thepress belowthe table. It

also'has: another arm 21 which is. adjustably mounted upon it and isprovided with a head 22. These parts are duplicated at the other side ofthe press. This head=hasthree or more perforations 23 for anoperatingrod 24. This operating rod extends across the press in front ofthe table thereof and can be placed in any one of the perforations 23 tolocate it at different distances from the table.

From what has been said, itwill; be obvious that every time the plunger1.1 descends both of the strandsof the flexible connection 13will bepulled down at the center and consequently the links 17 willv This Iaction is; positive. and there is no 'lostmotion in it. It results. in

be pulled up.

tightening up the strap, will rest against the lower side of the wrist.Extending down from this plate is a stop 2? in a plane at right angles tthe plate and to the direction of the rod 24. This is preferably hookedover at the bottom so that after having placed it in position, it willengage the rod and the operator'will feel the pressure if she lifts herhand away from the rod 24:.

lln ordinary operation, she has to rest her hand, or rather the plate26, on therod with the plate'Q? in front of it so that every time thisrod moves forward th operators hand is moved forward by power at thesame'time and it is moved out of the way before the,

plunger descends into contact with the table. This constitutes apositive and certain safety device which, as long as the operator has iton and is working on the press, will never fail to draw the hand awayfrom danger at all times. It does not interfere with thefeed of thepress by the operator and is comparatively inexpensive to make,and'install. It also has no electric connections.

Another advantage is that the device prevents the thrusting f the handtoo far into the press at all times.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of theinvention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can. be madetherein by any person skilled in the art, and that it can be applied toother types of presses thatthat shown, without departing from the scopeof the invention as expressed in'the claims. Therefore, I do not wish tobe limited to all the details of construction herein shown anddescribed, but what I do claim is lChe combination with a press having atable and reciprocating plunger, of a flexible connection connected withthe plunger and positively moving therewith, a movable transverse rod.mounted to move toward and away from the press table, means connectedwith the flexible connections for moving said rod as the plungerdescends, and means adapted to be worn on the wrist of the operator forengagement with said rod.

2. The combination with a press having a table and reciprocatingplunger, of a flexible connection connected with the plunger topositively move therewith, a lever connecmasses ted with said flexibleconection, and adapted to be swung by it on its pivot, said lever havingmounted thereon a transverse rod in position to swing away from thepress table as the plunger descends, and means adapted to be worn by theoperator for engagement with said rod, whereby the hand of the operatorwill be moved away from the plunger positively every time it descends. iJ

3. In a safety device, the combination with a reciprocating press headand plunger, of

flexible connection movable with the plunger, a shaft transverselylocated, an arm on said shaft connected with said flexible connectionand adapted to be raised by it when the plunger descends, a'pair of armson said shaft having means for supporting a transverse rod, whereby saidrod will be moved when the plunger moves, a strap adapted to be 'wornaround the wrist of the operator, and a plate extending down from thestrap and adapted to engage the-rod to provide for positively moving theoperators hand back when the plunger descends. m

a. In a safety device, the combination with a reciprocating press headand plunger, of a flexible connection, means on the plunger for movingsaid flexible connection as the plunger moves, a shaft, an arm on saidshaft connected with said flexible connection and adapted to beraised byit when the plunger descends, a pair of arms on said shaft extendingupwardly therefrom and having means for supporting a transverse rod inany one of a plurality of positions, wherebysaid rod will be movedforward when the plunger descends, a strap adapted to be worn around thewrist of the operator, and a hooked plate extending down from the strapand adapted to engage the rod to provide for positively moving theoperators hand back when the plunger descends.

5. As an article of manufacture, an attachment for a press safetydevice, a wrist strap having a plate provided with a transverselyproiecting hook for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

FRANK J. cannons.

